The special statement called for holding talks between the authorities of the north and the south to normalize the operation in the Kaesong Industrial Zone and resume the tours to Mt. Kumgang resort on the occasion of the anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration, giving hope for the improvement of the stalled inter-Korean relations and national reconciliation and unity, the statement said.

The General Association of Koreans in China warmly hails and positively supports the special statement as a patriotic, bold resolution to achieve national reunification, peace and prosperity, the cherished desire of the nation, at any cost, it noted, adding:

It is very regrettable that the Korean nation is spending days and months in acute contradiction and confrontation.

Defying the vicious moves of the separatists in the past, the Koreans have ushered in a new heyday for national reconciliation, unity, peace and prosperity including the publication of the June 15 joint declaration and the July 4 joint statement by turning adversity into a favorable condition.

We should remove misunderstanding and mistrust and open a new phase of reconciliation and unity through dialogues such as north-south joint celebrations of the anniversaries of the June 15 joint declaration and the July 4 joint statement shining with gold letters in the history of the sacred struggle for national reunification.

As the saying goes that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, the north and the south should build confidence, discussing the pending issues such as the issue of normalizing the operation in the Kaesong Industrial Zone, the issue of resuming the tours to Mt. Kumgang resort and the issue of reunion of the separated families and their relatives.

The south Korean authorities should have the sincere stand and attitude toward the improvement of the inter-Korean relations as unanimously demanded by all the fellow countrymen.